New Report Warns: Potential Next Pandemic May Originate from US Meat Supply
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| New Report Warns: Potential Next Pandemic May Originate from US Meat Supply |
The United States Faces Impending Threat: Potential Source of the Next Global Pandemic
In a sobering report jointly conducted by Harvard Law School and New York University, the spotlight falls on the United States as a potential origin of the next catastrophic global pandemic.
The study delves into the intricate dynamics between humans, livestock, and wild animals within the country.
Throughout history, numerous well-known and alarming diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, pandemic flu, and COVID-19, have emerged from animal reservoirs.
Traditionally, these zoonotic diseases were associated with regions in Africa or Asia, attributed to factors like poor hygiene, inadequate government oversight, and unsafe practices prevalent in those areas.
Contrary to a commonly held belief that such outbreaks could not occur within the US borders, researchers discovered that the nation's regulatory framework is relatively lax, and interactions between humans and animals occur at a high frequency.
Consequently, this makes it feasible for a virus or other contagious agents to leap from animals to humans within the US, potentially igniting a deadly and widespread outbreak.
"In light of the report's findings, Ann Linder, a prominent lead author and associate director of policy and research at the esteemed Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program in Harvard Law School, emphasizes the prevailing misconception of a secure buffer against zoonotic diseases solely occurring in distant lands.
Rather, she stresses that the reality exposes our heightened vulnerability in numerous ways, debunking the unfounded belief and urging awareness of potential threats within our own borders."
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The findings from the latest study, spearheaded by NYU's Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, shed light on critical aspects of susceptibility within the US meat supply chain.
The report emphasizes multiple areas of concern, such as the presence of commercial farms where large numbers of livestock coexist in close proximity with both each other and their handlers.
Additionally, it highlights the risks associated with the wild animal trade, wherein animals are imported with minimal or no health screening.
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Moreover, the fur trade, responsible for breeding minks and other animals for their coats, also receives attention in the report due to its lack of adequate safety oversight.
These vulnerabilities collectively increase the potential for a new pandemic to emerge from within the US meat supply system.
"In the realm of globalization, we have transcended natural barriers like seas and mountains, leading to a dangerous blending of animal populations and disease agents across continents, spreading at an alarming and relentless rate," cautioned Linder, an esteemed authority in law and animal policy.
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According to the report, an astounding 10 billion land animals are currently being raised in the United States, with this number steadily rising by approximately 200 million each year.
Notably, the United States surpasses almost every other country in the world in terms of the sheer volume of pigs and poultry being raised, making them highly probable carriers for an especially deadly influenza outbreak.
Industry advocates wasted no time in standing up for the integrity of their procedures. Ashley Peterson, the senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the National Chicken Council, emphasized in a statement via email that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported an exceedingly low probability of avian diseases spreading from birds to humans in the United States.
On the other hand, a request for comment made to a pork industry group went unanswered as they did not respond promptly.
According to Delcianna Winders, an associate professor of law and director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at Vermont Law and Graduate School in Royalton, workers on pig and poultry farms face significant vulnerability due to the lack of protective regulations.
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The on-farm raising of animals remains largely unregulated, and while there are some limited regulations for slaughterhouses, they are deemed inadequate and deteriorating.
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Winders, who researches a related area but was not involved in the recent report, points out that the federal government's current approach involves deregulating slaughter, rather than implementing more oversight.
The mink and larger fur industry, not being associated with food production, faces even fewer regulations, as highlighted by Linder.
Another study, published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," reveals that mink present a higher risk than other farmed species for potential disease outbreaks and the development of future pandemics.
Multiple studies have demonstrated the susceptibility of mink to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, with outbreaks detected on 18 American mink farms during the initial two years of the pandemic.
Concerningly, at least four Americans, including two mink farm workers, were believed to have been infected by the animals.
Challis Hobbs, the Executive Director of the Fur Commission USA, a trade group, emphasized their unwavering dedication to ensuring the well-being and safety of their animals, workforce, and the surrounding communities.
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Collaborating closely with federal and state agencies, the industry took proactive measures by vaccinating 95% of the U.S. mink population starting from the summer of 2021.
Notably, the entire cost of vaccination was borne by the mink farmers themselves, and they also contributed to financing a vital SARS-CoV-2 surveillance initiative on mink farms.
Contrary to assertions made by animal rights advocates, Hobbs asserted that there is no substantial risk posed to the general public by U.S. farmed mink.
Highlighting a separate concern, Linder pointed out that approximately 220 million live wild animals are imported into the United States annually for various purposes, including pets.
However, many of these animals arrive without undergoing health or safety checks.
Linder drew attention to the difference in regulations between importing domestic animals like dogs and cats, which undergo a stringent process, and the minimal regulation faced by wildlife importers bringing in numerous wild mammals from regions such as South America.
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The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 is believed to have been triggered by the consumption of bush meat, leading to pressing concerns about the potential risks associated with the US meat supply.
Despite the import of bush meat being illegal in the United States, the live animals from which bush meat originates can still be legally imported, creating significant regulatory gaps.
Both Linder and Winders, experts in the field, have shed light on the lack of transparency within the industry, raising concerns about the hidden aspects of the meat supply chain that are not subject to public scrutiny or monitoring.
This dearth of information raises alarms about the potential dangers lurking within the system.
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Winders has expressed particular concern over the substantial government subsidies and protection offered to industries that she believes may pose risks to public health. She hopes that Congress will seize the opportunity presented by the reenactment of the Farm Bill this year to implement stricter safety regulations and limit subsidies in the animal industries.
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As the warning signs of a looming zoonotic outbreak, potentially more severe than COVID, become increasingly evident, Winders wonders why the urgency to address these issues is still being overlooked.
Scientists are sounding the alarm, and after the experiences of the past couple of years, she emphasizes that it's crucial not to ignore these potential threats any longer.
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